History: A Paradigm Shift

In the previous section we considered the roots of our authoritarian society in which power and privilege, along with expertise and authority, are held in the hands of a chosen few, to whom the masses then look for guidance and validation.

We have also seen that this expression of the Paradigm of Disconnection has run its course. Here we will trace the forces--visible across many areas of human endeavor--that are dismantling the hierarchical structures that have dominated virtually every area of our lives for the past several thousand years.

We will see that our personal experience does not exist apart from the prevailing medical, political, social, religious, or environmental forces, and that it is, in fact, their interdependence that underlines the shift.

We will explore the tremendous impetus building toward the implementation of the Paradigm of Connection, in which we recognize our interdependence and are empowered to accept responsibility for the connection present in the fabric of our lives--physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Note: This section was originally written in the late 1980s. It describes the key players in a variety of fields who were instrumental in bring the Paradigm of Connection into public awareness. It is continually being updated, both as new players are discovered, and as the outcomes resulting from various pioneers' work is uncovered.

From Wellness for Helping Professionals, Travis and Callander, (c) 1990 by John W. Travis, MD, MPH